Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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Lord Mahāvīra and His Times
ed with regard to substance, place, time, and state of mind, observes abstinence with regard to development too.
With regard to collecting alms, there are eight principal ways of collecting them : the seven Eshanās (or modes of begging) and other self-imposed restrictions. Abstention from dainty food means abstention from such highly nourishing food and drink as milk, curd, ghee, etc. Mortification of the flesh consists in such different postures as Vīrāsana, etc. which benefit the soul, and which are difficult to perform. Using unfrequented lodgings and beds consists in living and sleeping in separate and unfrequented places where there are neither women nor cattle.
Internal austerities are of six types (1) Prāyaśchitta or expiration of sins, (2) Vinaya or politeness, (3) Vaiyāvstya or serving the Guru, (4) Svadhyāya or study, (5) Dhyana or meditation, and (6) Vyutsarga or abandoning the body. Expiration of sins is tenfold, what must be confessed, etc. This is to be strictly observed by a monk and is called expiration of sins. Politeness consists in rising (from one's seat), folding of the hands, offering a seat, loving the Guru, and cordial obedience. There are ten kinds of service, such as serving the Ācārya, etc. ; doing service consists in giving one's assistance as well as one is able to give. Study is fivefold: (1) learning one's lesson, (2)
questioning the teacher about it, (3) repetition, (4) pondering, .and (5) religious discourse. To abstain from meditation is to
abstain from meditating on painful and sinful things; one should, rather, meditate on the Law with a collected mind. If a monk remains motionless while lying down, sitting or standing upright, this is called abandonment of the body, which is one of the internal austerities: Five Vows (Vratas) for the ascetics
While Pārsva taught only four vows for the realization of absolute happiness, Mahāvīra taught five in all, making chastity a separate vow altogether. Thesc five vows are Ahimsā (not to kill), Satya (not to lie), Astera (not to steal), Brahmacarya (to abstain from sexual intercourse), and Apratigraha (to renounce all interest in worldly things, especially in property).